From "nothing" to billionaires... What are the secrets of the phenomenon of "exorbitant and rapid wealth" in Iraq?
Hussein Omran, a researcher in strategic, political, and regional security affairs, highlighted the phenomenon of "exorbitant and rapid wealth accumulation" that has spread inIraqIn recent years, he described it as a product of the "shadow economy" and not the result of investment acumen or genuine entrepreneurship.
The researcher attributed this shift to two main, almost guaranteed paths to wealth beyond oversight:
The first path: the dollar "machine" and currency platform: Imran argued that manipulating the price difference between the official and parallel markets, fictitious invoices, and transfers made through front companies and banks lacking genuine oversight, transformed the dollar into a means of exorbitant profit with no risk or added value to the economy, in addition to serving as a cover for money laundering operations.
The second path: oil smuggling and the regional shadow market: The researcher explained that regional crises, particularly those related to Iran, created a massive parallel oil market. He emphasized thatIraqIt has become a "corridor and outlet" through complex land and sea routes, where oil is sold under various guises via a system that includes tankers, intermediaries, and formal and informal facilities, making "proximity to oil" the shortest path to wealth.
Imran warned of the disastrous consequences of this model , emphasizing that it neither builds a state nor creates jobs, but rather produces a "parasitic elite" linked to or protected by politics, which fights any attempt at reform because it threatens its source of profit.
Imran described this situation as "CollapseThe "quiet" collapse, which doesn't happen with a resounding explosion, but rather seeps into the structure of society when an entire generation becomes convinced that "work and production"stupidityThe researcher concluded his presentation
with a question that sparked widespread discussion: "Do you know anyone who had nothing and is now a billionaire?", highlighting the clarity of the phenomenon and the inability of natural economic logic to explain it.
Sudani: Ending the UN mission means that Iraqi institutions have delivered the best levels of performance.
Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani expressed his gratitude on Saturday to the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq (UNAMI), stressing that the end of its work means that Iraqi institutions have provided the best levels of performance.
In a statement received by the Mail, the Sudanese office said, “Today, the Sudanese received the Special Representative of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Mohammed Al-Hassan, on the occasion of the end of his duties in Iraq and the termination of the work of the United Nations Assistance Mission for Iraq/UNAMI.”
According to the statement, Al-Sudani expressed his "gratitude to Al-Hassan and to all those who worked in the mission, for the assistance they provided to Iraq in various fields throughout its duration, from the fall of the dictatorial regime until today."
The Prime Minister affirmed, “The relationship between Iraq and the international organization will continue, as will the bilateral programs on which cooperation is taking place, and that ending the work of the UNAMI mission means that the Iraqi state institutions have been able to provide the best levels of performance in carrying out their constitutional and legal duties, in a step that enhances national sovereignty.”
For his part, Al-Hassan praised “what has been achieved in Iraq during the past years of the government’s work, and the important steps that contributed to reaching this day, noting the keenness to continue working with Iraq in various programs.”
"Dollar reservation"... Rafidain Bank complicates procedures for selling travelers' quota
An informed source revealed on Saturday that the process of selling dollars to travelers by Al-Rafidain Bank is done through electronic booking days before the travel date, describing it as a complex mechanism compared to other banks and exchange companies.
The source, who spoke to Shafaq News Agency, explained that banks and other exchange companies rely on direct sales where Iraqi dinars are deposited and dollars are received on the same day without complicated procedures, while Al-Rafidain Bank requires its customers to make prior reservations through the electronic platform.
He explained that the dollar is received from the Rafidain Bank outlet at Baghdad International Airport at the official rate set at (1320) dinars per dollar, noting that there have been numerous demands for the adoption of direct sales without electronic reservation or imposing conditions he described as impossible, but the bank has not responded to those demands so far.
The source pointed out that Rafidain Bank had previously suspended dollar sales due to suspicions of corruption and embezzlement of foreign currency, which led to a wide-ranging investigation into the matter. The source emphasized that the results of the investigation remain unclear.
It is worth mentioning that Rafidain Bank recently opened a new branch at Baghdad International Airport to provide banking services and facilities to citizens.
"Threaten them with their money": Savaya receives advice on the weaknesses of Iraqi politicians
This is the link to the original article
The Middle East Monitor website offered advice to the US Special Envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, that if he wants to succeed in his Iraqi mission and survive what the report called the "theater of illusions" represented by Baghdad, he should scrutinize who is making money.
After the London-based website pointed out that Savaya came to his position as a reward for his loyalty, and not through hardening his resolve through Middle Eastern events and calculations, it noted that he comes to the den of wolves armed with a smile and an outstretched hand, but his experience is shallow and his mandate is to dismantle the Popular Mobilization Forces and cut the strong bond of loyalty that connects Baghdad to Tehran, in order to pull Iraq back into the sunlight from the darkness of Iran.
The report, translated by Shafaq News Agency, said that Savaya will walk through a maze of deception, where every door in front of him is a trap. It added that the leaders he will deal with have overcome dictatorships, invasions, coups, sanctions, revolutions, and wars, and buried their enemies. They speak cunningly and will mislead him by drowning him in unimportant details. It noted that they are skilled at camouflage and that their civility is merely a sword covered in silk, and that he will have to identify the twin forces behind their actions in order to understand them.
The report continued, saying: “These are not patriots, but rather a coterie of greed. They do not worship ideology, but rather power. They do not cling to faith, but rather to wealth. They are not ministers and parliamentarians, but rather leaders of a league wearing government clothes. They lead militia groups, order kidnappings, and silence journalists.” It added that they “have been looting Iraq since 2003, and they feed on a wounded lion like hyenas.”
The report said that, like all criminals, they "made one major mistake: they left a financial trail."
The report explained that their wealth is not in Baghdad, but rather their money is hidden in vaults in Switzerland, in Iranian banks, in shell companies, in offshore accounts, and in real estate in Europe, North America, and within the United States, noting that the “Panama Papers” scandal contributed to lifting the veil and to the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control tracking them.
The report urged Savaya to use the weapon of "the power of fear" against these people because they fear poverty and bankruptcy, not troops and bombs, if he wanted his mission to succeed.
The report outlined this proposed scenario, with the author addressing Savaya: “Sit before them, smile diplomatically, and present them with a document granting the United States government full legal authority to investigate, trace, and seize any asset, account, or investment in their names, the names of their children, or the names of those in their inner circle.” He continued, “Tell them this document means nothing if they are truly innocent. Watch their hands tremble, watch their masks break, and those who are honest will sign. But the corrupt will stall, and they will erupt in anger at the sudden infringement upon their sovereignty over their ill-gotten gains.”
He added, "These men are not motivated by dignity or belief. It is the fear of losing everything they have stolen that motivates them."
The report stated that "money is only one of their weapons; their second weapon is deception. They are experts in smiles, hugs, and schemes. They are a group of promises and betrayals, and they practice dissimulation," noting that this does not represent theology or science, but rather "a sacred art of lying," and every handshake is worthless.
The report continued, saying, "They will obstruct him, and stifle him with delays until he gets tired and defeated," adding that "we must remember that the Iraqi tragedy did not arise only in a state of chaos, but rather in the collaboration between cynical foreigners and opportunistic Iraqis, and between external power and internal treachery."
The report argued that Savaya was not sent to deal with a democratic entity, but rather with a market where loyalty is a commodity, where alliances can be auctioned off, and where patriotism can be faked. It added that "if Savaya wants to dismantle the Popular Mobilization Forces, and if he wants to destroy Tehran's grip, then he must harness the one thing these men fear, which is money, not truth, not principles, not justice."
The report concluded by addressing Savaya, saying, "Follow the money. Seize it. Threaten, use it, and only then will they bow down. Only then will they surrender. Only then will the empire of thieves tremble." It continued, "Follow the money, and never stop until their world collapses.
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Iran: Speculation grows about the government's move towards unifying the "exchange rate"
While talk has returned to Iran about monetary policy reforms and the move towards unifying the exchange rate, a report issued by the Planning and Budget Organization shows that the policy of fixing the exchange rate has not only failed to curb inflation, but has also contributed to expanding the circle of rent-seeking and corruption and causing disruptions in production and exports.
In recent days, speculation has resurfaced regarding the initiation of serious reforms to Iran's exchange rate policies and the government's move towards adopting a unified exchange rate. While this news has not yet been officially confirmed, the evidence suggests that the continuation of the multiple exchange rate system, instead of curbing inflation and supporting the livelihoods of Iranian families, has become a source of rent-seeking, exacerbated corruption, and disrupted production and exports.
The newspaper “Donya-e-Eqtesad” reported that the Planning and Budget Organization confirmed in a concurrent report that the policy of fixing the exchange rate has not succeeded in controlling prices, but has instead turned into an obstacle to trade procedures in the country.
Some policymakers argue that current conditions do not permit a unified exchange rate, while others believe that multiple exchange rates have failed to curb inflation or support low-income households, instead becoming a mechanism for rent-seeking. Furthermore, global experience shows that economies adopting multiple exchange rate systems are often plagued by high inflation, without any tangible positive impact on their economic performance.
The profit generated by the gap between the official exchange rate (28,500 tomans) and the free market rate (around 132,000 tomans) undoubtedly has beneficiaries who will not easily allow the government to eliminate it. The defense of the multiple exchange rate system by some members of parliament comes at a time when analytical reports from research centers confirm that the preferential currency allocation has failed to control the prices of basic goods.
In the supporting documents for the 2026 budget bill, the Planning and Budget Organization addressed monetary policy and the multiple exchange rate system, outlining its position on the matter. These documents indicated that the monetary policy adopted in Iran, including the preferential exchange rate, the Hall 1 exchange rate, and the Hall 2 exchange rate, has failed to effectively curb the inflationary effects stemming from the high unofficial exchange rate. The documents further stated that achieving economic stability and controlling inflation through monetary policy should focus on achieving sustainable stability in the free exchange market, as fixing preferential exchange rates is an artificial and unrealistic approach.
The report added that the policy of fixing the official exchange rate has become a costly burden on the national economy, particularly on producers and exporters. These costs include weakened exports, increased demand for imports, hindered repatriation of foreign currency earnings from exports, exacerbated capital flight, weakened domestic production, widespread corruption and rent-seeking, and, most importantly, rampant smuggling.
According to some recent studies, the primary reason for the growth in liquidity is attributed to budget deficits and government financial imbalances. In practice, the government is forced to compensate for the budget deficit by printing money and increasing liquidity, which ultimately leads to fluctuations in the exchange rate and higher inflation rates.
The Iraqi parliament publishes the agenda for Monday's session.
The Iraqi Parliament announced on Saturday, December 27, 2025, the agenda for its session scheduled to be held next Monday.
The council stated in a statement that the agenda includes reading verses from the Holy Quran, the swearing-in of the ladies and gentlemen members of the House of Representatives, as well as the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his two deputies.
He added that the session will be held at 12 noon.
text:
Representatives
Recitation of verses from the Holy Quran
Parliamentary
First: Taking the constitutional oath by the members of the Council of Representatives.
Second: Election of the Speaker of the Council of Representatives and his two deputies.
The session begins at 12:00 PM
The Iraqi parliament is scheduled to hold its first session of its sixth term on Monday at 12 noon, which includes two items on its agenda.
The first paragraph includes: the swearing-in of the new members of the House of Representatives, and the other includes: the election of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his two deputies, according to a statement issued by the Parliament’s Media Department.
In the past few days, the Shiite, Sunni, and Kurdish political forces and parties that won the elections have intensified their discussions in order to decide on the three top leadership positions: Speaker of Parliament, President of the Republic, and Prime Minister.
After the fall of Saddam Hussein’s regime in the spring of 2003 at the hands of American forces and their allies, the major political forces of the Shiites, Kurds, and Sunnis adopted a quota system in distributing positions for the three presidencies: the Prime Minister’s office, the Republic, and Parliament.
Last Saturday, the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, confirmed that the first session of the new House of Representatives, scheduled for December 29, 2025, must decide on the appointment of the Speaker of the House and his two deputies, and it is not constitutionally or legally permissible to postpone or extend it.
Sudani reveals "current" efforts to hold a meeting between Washington and Tehran in Baghdad
Outgoing Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani revealed on Saturday evening that there are "current" efforts to hold negotiations between America and Iran in the capital, Baghdad.
In a televised interview with the Lebanese channel Al-Mayadeen, which was monitored by Shafaq News Agency, Al-Sudani said: "We are now undertaking an important effort to arrange a bilateral meeting between Tehran and Washington in Baghdad to resume dialogue between the two sides."
He added: "We proposed to US envoy Tom Barrack that we leverage our relationship with Iran to resume Iranian-American negotiations."
He stressed that "neither the American nor the Iranian side rejects resuming dialogue, but each has its own limitations."
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi had previously confirmed that his country would not return to negotiations as long as America presented demands that he described as "unreasonable and exaggerated".
It is noted that Tehran and Washington have held five rounds of indirect nuclear negotiations, and while the Iranian side was preparing for the sixth round, Israel launched a surprise 12-day air war last June, in which the United States joined by bombing Iranian nuclear facilities.
In late August, the Troika launched the "snapback" process and called on the Security Council to reimpose UN sanctions on Iran, which it did.
Factional weapons
On the domestic front, regarding the issue of restricting the weapons of Iraqi armed factions, which is no less complex and dangerous than the Iranian-American tension, Al-Sudani stressed that "restricting weapons is not an American demand, but rather an Iraqi decision in the government program that I presented and the House of Representatives voted on."
Al-Sudani added: "One of my conditions was that I would not accept being the head of government and remain a spectator to the bombing of embassies and camps."
He revealed that "Iraqi factions have two options: either to join the security institutions or to go down the political path."
Some armed factions recently announced their agreement to the call to restrict weapons to the state, and official positions were issued by the Secretary-General of the Imam Ali Brigades, Shibl al-Zaidi, followed by a call from the Secretary-General of the Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq Movement, Qais al-Khazali, as well as the Ansar Allah al-Awfiya faction, in addition to the spokesman for the Sayyid al-Shuhada Brigades.
However, Kataib Hezbollah refused to "disarm" and stressed that "sovereignty, controlling the security of Iraq, and preventing foreign interference in all its forms are prerequisites for talking about restricting weapons to the state. We affirm that our position is consistent with what our religious authorities have stated, whenever that is achieved."
A leader in the “Al-Nujaba” movement, one of the armed factions in Iraq, also confirmed that the movement will continue to resist the Americans by all means.
On December 20, 2025, the head of the Supreme Judicial Council, Faiq Zaidan, announced that armed factions had responded to the principle of restricting weapons to the state, at a time when the United States was intensifying its pressure on Baghdad to end the role of the factions and prevent their participation in the new government, after they had obtained a large number of parliamentary seats.
It is worth noting that US President Donald Trump’s envoy to Iraq, Mark Savaya, had previously confirmed that the steps announced by Iraqi armed groups towards disarmament represent a “welcome and encouraging” development, indicating that they are a positive response to the long-standing calls and aspirations of the religious authority and its esteemed religious leaders.
For months, the United States has been putting intense pressure on the Iraqi government to end the role of armed factions, disband them, and control weapons outside the state. It has also stipulated that the factions should not participate in the new government, especially after they obtained a large number of parliamentary seats.
Government directives to update customs procedures and implement ASYCUDA at all ports of entry
The head of the Border Ports Authority, Lieutenant General Omar Adnan Al-Waili, stressed on Saturday the importance of successfully implementing governance and sustaining development and modernization projects, which will contribute to facilitating trade and improving procedures at border crossings.
A statement from the Border Ports Authority said, “Al-Waili chaired an emergency meeting that included the directors of the border ports and customs centers, in the presence of the Director General of the General Authority of Customs, Thamer Qasim Dawood, the director of the ASYCUDA program in customs, in addition to a representative of the Federation of Chambers of Commerce.”
The statement explained that the meeting discussed the recommendations of the committee of Diwani Order No. (613) of 2025, especially regarding the new pricing, deduction of tax through the ASYCUDA system, as well as the application of the pre-customs declaration system to all goods entering the country starting from January 1, 2026.
He noted that the Director General of Customs provided a detailed explanation of the procedures that customs centers must implement directly, stressing the need to adhere to accuracy and responsibility, prevent any cases of manipulation, and work to maximize revenues.
The meeting also included a presentation by ASYCUDA Program Director Mohammed Mazen, during which he reviewed the mechanisms for implementing the advance customs declaration, instructions for financial transfers through approved banks, in addition to discussing the private sector’s observations regarding all the recommendations issued.
At the conclusion of the meeting, the head of the Border Ports Authority stressed the need to successfully implement governance and continue development and modernization processes at all border ports, in order to facilitate trade exchange procedures, achieve the public interest of the state, and meet the aspirations of citizens.
Full English Translation of the Provided TranscriptThis appears to be a spoken interview (in Iraqi Arabic dialect) from an Iraqi citizen on the street, expressing skepticism and frustration about Western/U.S. envoys, including Mark Savaya (Trump's special envoy). Here's a clear, natural English translation, broken into paragraphs for readability:"All Western envoys—and especially the American ones—come with an exaggerated optimism, as if they're bringing us the 'Western dream' to apply in the Middle East. No, the issue is about their interests: their political interests, their military interests with their enemies in the region.America's primary goal from stabilizing the Middle East is stabilizing its own interests, by God.Trump's envoy right now is coming to direct the situation and give scenarios to the government so it aligns with America's position. What America wants, he's coming to guide them on. Meanwhile, the people and Iraq are seen one way, America another way. There are parties leaning toward neighboring countries that are supporting them from outside the country, and the people are on a different path altogether.We're taking positions from inside the country, but we're marginalized—a marginalized people.And certainly, he will carry in his bag many decisions and many things that he might dictate to the Iraqi government and to the Iraqi state in general.In my opinion, based on our anticipation of the political situation, it's possible that the Iraqi government will respond to some of these demands or these things in his bag, in order to avoid American sanctions on Iraq, like what happened in some other countries."
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